GRPS 385
PRIORITY
CYPHER CAT A
FROM CALCUTTA 240430Z
CONFIDENTIAL
CONFIDENTIAL
LABT
NEXI
REF.
ONE COPY
30
74
TO PRIORITY FCO TELNO 73 OF 24 MAY/INFO ABU DHABI HONG KONG
FCO TELNO 57 TO CALCUTTA.
1.
WE
IF LOCAL AUTHORITIES ARE INFORMED OF MR HEATH'S TRANSIT
OF CALCUTTA WE SUSPECT THAT CHIEF MINISTER OF WEST BENGAL
WILL INSIST ON COMING OUT TO AIRPORT, MOREOVER, HE AND
HIS AUTHORITIES WILL INSIST ON SECURITY RED CARPET.
COULD BE FACED WITH REPEAT PERFORMANCE SUCH AS THAT GIVEN
WHEN DUKE OF EDINBURGH TRANSITTED LAST YEAR. WE COULD KEEP
TRANSIT TOTALLY QUIET BUT THEN WE RISK OFFENDING AUTHORITIES
IF THEY FIND OUT.
2.
SUGGEST FOLLOWING COURSE OF ACTION
(A) SECURITY AUTHORITIES AND CHIEF MINISTER SHOULD BE IN- FORMED OF TRANSIT SOME 36 HOURS BEFOREHAND.
(B) BRITISH AIRWAYS HOSPITALITY ROOM WILL BE RESERVED
FOR MR HEATH AND HIS PARTY.
(C) SHOULD CHIEF MINISTER NOT TURN UP WE COULD GET BRITISH AIRWAYS STAFF TO CONTACT MR HEATH ABOARD PLANE BEFORE LANDING
TO GIVE HIM OPTION OF STAYING ON BOARD.
3. WE REALISE THAT THIS DEPENDS ON WHETHER MR HEATH WISHES
TO DISEMBARK AT ALL. HE WILL HAVE HAD A LENGTHY JOURNEY TO
CALCUTTA FROM HONG KONG. AFTER CALCUTTA IT MAY BE MORE DIF-
FICULT TO DISEMBARK IN TRANSIT. FURTHER CONSIDERATION IS
THAT CHIEF MINISTER IS CLOSE COLLEAGUE OF MRS GANDHI WITH WHOM
MR HEATH IS REPUTED TO HAVE HAD SUCCESSFUL MEETINGS. FCO PASS ABU DHABI AND HONG KONG.
MORGAN
FILES SECURITY D
MD HKIOD
HD SAD HD FED
[REPEATED AS REQUESTED]
MR TEBBIT
COPIES TO 30% 500
MR WHITEHEAD
MR WILFORD
MR YOUDE
CONFIDENTIAL